22 OCTOBER 1994, Page 30

This year, next year

`THAT'LL WOW them,' says the Chancel- lor. 'Now all I need is a theme. A budget for crossing my fingers and keeping my powder dry? A budget for getting one year nearer the election without some frightful financial crisis blowing up and setting us back behind square one? A budget to try to make room for a popular budget next year?' A budget for prudence?' suggests Mr Hudson. 'Thank you, Andrew, that'll have to do. Now then, everyone, we'll just raise our mugs to absent friends, and then it'll be lunch-time.'